May 30th Commemoration

Following the weekend of celebration, the Birthplace of Memorial Day pauses to remember the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price for freedom. The 152nd solemn remembrance of Memorial Day in Waterloo will be observed on Wednesday May 30. The VFW will conduct this years remembrance events. Memorial Day is always commemorated on May 30 in Waterloo, in keeping with Gen. John A. Logan’s Orders.

The solemn remembrance will continue at 6 p.m. when the military parade steps off from Main and Clark streets, proceeding down Main Street to Lafayette Park where several veterans organizations will participate in the laying of the wreaths at the veterans monuments in the park. The program will include the recitation of the Gettysburg Address and Logan’s Orders by students from Waterloo High School, Speeches by honored dignitaries, the playing of the National Anthem by the high school band, Salute to the Dead gun vollies by the veteran led honor guard and the playing of Taps.

This years Featured Speaker:
Joel Evans
CPO USN Retired

Joel Evans currently serves as the Executive Deputy Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs (NYS DVA).He was appointed to this position by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, effective 6 June 2013.

Joel has been with NYS DVA since 1 November 2007. He was hired as a State Veterans Counselor and worked in the Division’s office at the Montrose VA Medical Center, at Carmel in the Putnam County Veterans office and at West Point.In January 2010 he was promoted to Senior State Veterans Counselor and was assigned to the Intake Center at the VA Regional Office in New York City.In May of 2012 he was promoted to Associate Training Technician.

Joel joined the Navy in 1984 and served as a torpedoman until 1996.He served in Naval Submarine Base Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Naval Submarine Base Point Loma San Diego, Naval Station Yokosuka Japan where he participated in Combat Operations during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.In 1996 he started his Naval Recruiting Career.He served in Navy Recruiting District San Antonio, Navy Recruiting District Richmond, Navy Recruiting District Buffalo and Navy Recruiting District New England.His last four years were in the Hudson Valley working in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Rockland and Orange Counties.He retired from the Navy in August 2007 as a Chief Petty Officer.